A successful Session 0

[Mortar]

So I took the plunge last night, and ran my first game on FG last night and it happened to be in C&C. For me it was a definite success, I learned a ton about the GM side of the house and even though things were a bit disjointed as most (as in 4 of the 5 people in the game, including me) of us aren't experts in the ruleset.

My plan is to run the entire A adventure story arc, on a bi-weekly basis, but we will see what happens.

Next session is set for 7 May @ 5 pm CT/6 pm ET (I think that's 11 GMT/UTC - whatever that zone is for you guys over there).

Drop me line in this thread or PM me if there is any interest.

[JohnD]

Good for you. Have fun!

[Varsuuk]

Awesome

[dmkevin]

Congratulations on your first of many successful sessions!

[Lexfire]

Congratulations - I still have to take the plunge and set up my first session as DM.

[Trenloe]

Congratulations - I still have to take the plunge and set up my first session as DM.

Don't wait three years like Mortar did! ;-)

[ravenloft713]

Good to hear Mortar. If needed, you can run a second FG and login as a player (navigate to "C:\Program Files (x86)\Fantasy Grounds\FantasyGrounds.exe" if using Windows. If using OSX, it can get tricky). The benefit of doing this outside of your campaign time is to have a full understanding on what you do as a DM and how it appears on the player's side (combat tracker and hidden guys--as a player it's easy to tell when an a hidden NPC is in the combat tracker because the "your turn" icon disappears). And reduces the "I just did something (as a DM). Can you see it? How about now? Now?"

I would not run a second application during gameplay though. I see little to know benefit for that.

[Mortar]

Thanks all!

It was a total blast being on the other side of the table, so much so I am thinking about other campaigns (in other systems). The biggest drawback for me in this one is my overall lack of experience with the ruleset - haven't played it enough.

[ravenloft713]

Just don't be afraid. I remember reading many of the "Ecology" articles in Dragon Magazine and it helped me to realize that the more successful adventures had a realism to them and things made sense.

For example, a magically sealed tomb is finally entered after 1000 years. Dust is everywhere. Skeletons and zombies in every room until a room full of (living) wild dogs is encountered. /record screech

Why are their living dogs surrounded by zombies in a tomb not opened for 1000 years?

This tomb can be altered a few ways. Maybe the door is sealed up but inside there are footprints and signs of previous adventures. Near the dog area put a section of rubble which allows for fresh air/passage. Now maybe the dogs/adventurers came in that way.

But I see 'weird' stuff in published modules too. The first encounter in Lost Mine of Phandelver is a goblin ambush where the goblins leave two dead horses to rot and block the road. My take on goblins is meat is meat and they are intelligent enough to know hunting takes awhile and is unpredictable and they can't waltz into the grocery store for 10 pounds of your finest cut. So I have the goblins eat/carve off/drag as much of the horse meat as possible. Were talking a potential of 4000 pounds of food. Left to rot because they prefer chasing rats in the forest?

So as you read material, if you go "ah... what?", your player's might too. Your goal isn't to find and change and explain all that, but understand you cannot take a series of random encounters and expect is to flow perfectly. When in doubt, blame it on nature. The wall is smashed because of a tree.

[Crisp]

Congratulation Mortar, glad to hear you had fun. I would be interested in joining the game if you have room.